NASA Phoenix Mars Lander Confirms Frozen Water
June 20, 2008 -- Scientists relishing confirmation of water ice near the surface beside NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander anticipate even bigger discoveries from the robotic mission in the weeks ahead. "It is with great pride and a lot of joy that I announce today that we have found proof that this hard bright material is really water ice and not some other substance," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, during a Friday news briefing to announce the confirmation of water ice. For the rest of the story and photos visit the Phoenix Mars Mission at the University of Arizona.
Mars is definitely a long road trip from Flagstaff, but reading about this extremely important discovery made me think how Gene Shoemaker would have wanted be right in the middle of this proud group of men. And that brings us to the Flagstaff connection--the Astrogeology Research Program that was founded in 1961 by Gene Shoemaker (1928-1997). He died tragically in an automobile accident in 1997. The program he started, and contributed so much to, lives on with a team of over 80 diverse participants. In 2002 the program moved into its new home, the Shoemaker Center for Astrogeology on the USGS Flagstaff Science Center campus. It's located next to Buffalo Park, 2400 N. Gemini Road.
Here you can read about Gene Shoemaker and the history of the Astrogeology Research Program, including how they and Flagstaff contributed to astronaunt training and missions to the moon . Link out from that page to a list of recommended reading, including an online book and a link to "Romance to Reality: a site warehousing over 300 summaries and descriptions of classic, seminal, and illustrative Moon and Mars exploration and studies dating from the 1950's to present," which is broken. Now that sounds like one extremely interesting collection. However, a quick Google search leads to a page on the Mars Institute website, titled Romance to Reality: moon & Mars plans, which requires a bit more research. Happy hunting. I'll see if I can find more info since this page doesn't tell us about the current progress of the books (another broken link.) Seems a shame that the material is no longer available. Sometimes a trail begins and ends unexpectedly.
But, back to the Flagstaff to Mars connection, actually connections, when you consider not only the Astrogeology Research Program, but the history of Lowell Observatory and how it came to be built in Flagstaff.
Want to see how the Astrogeology Research Program is still directly connected to Mars? Go to the Upcoming Missions. Gene Shoemaker must be proud of the work that is continuing to be done on the foundation that he built.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
7,000 Feet and at Risk
Just a reminder to take precautions to protect your skin and eyes from the sun's UV (ultraviolet) rays. You know we're more at risk here in Flagstaff because of the elevation. Not as much atmosphere to filter out the harmful effects of the sun.
It may not be as hot here (aren't we thankful for that) as in Phoenix, Tucson or Las Vegas, but the cooler air is deceptive. We all need to be extra vigilant so we don't have to suffer through a painful sunburn.
I learned by hard experience this spring. Not being aware of how quickly skin can burn may result in a painful lesson. As a result of that lack of awareness I began to do a lot of research and just finished an article on How to Avoid Sunburn in Higher Altitudes.
Guess that's what you call live and learn. Take care when you're out enjoying this wonderful Flagstaff spring, almost summer.
It may not be as hot here (aren't we thankful for that) as in Phoenix, Tucson or Las Vegas, but the cooler air is deceptive. We all need to be extra vigilant so we don't have to suffer through a painful sunburn.
I learned by hard experience this spring. Not being aware of how quickly skin can burn may result in a painful lesson. As a result of that lack of awareness I began to do a lot of research and just finished an article on How to Avoid Sunburn in Higher Altitudes.
Guess that's what you call live and learn. Take care when you're out enjoying this wonderful Flagstaff spring, almost summer.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father's Day Trip to Lowell
Looks like the clouds are blowing away, so this should be a perfect night for Father's Day Star Fest at Lowell Observatory. It starts at 7 p.m. with an indoor presentation called, "We're All Made of Startdust." If you're as intrigued as I am with the idea that we're made of stuff from the stars, it should be a really interesting night to go to Lowell.
We got this nice shot with a cell phone this morning. Someone forgot to take the camera.
It's wonderful to stand by that great old telescope and know that Lowell, Douglass, Slipher and Tombaugh, among so many others, walked those floors and looked through that lens. We can be so thankful that they had a dream of what might be out there among the stars just waiting for the right person with the patience and the vision to see.
They didn't realize all their dreams, but we are still building on the foundation they laid. There are so many interesting stories to read about the early days of Lowell Observatory and Flagstaff. We'll go there later.
Update: What a fun evening! Howard Israel's presentation was not only informative, but entertaining and inspiring. We really are made of stardust.
We got this nice shot with a cell phone this morning. Someone forgot to take the camera.
It's wonderful to stand by that great old telescope and know that Lowell, Douglass, Slipher and Tombaugh, among so many others, walked those floors and looked through that lens. We can be so thankful that they had a dream of what might be out there among the stars just waiting for the right person with the patience and the vision to see.
They didn't realize all their dreams, but we are still building on the foundation they laid. There are so many interesting stories to read about the early days of Lowell Observatory and Flagstaff. We'll go there later.
Update: What a fun evening! Howard Israel's presentation was not only informative, but entertaining and inspiring. We really are made of stardust.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Flagstaff Visitor's Center
Here's a destination that you can reach online or on the road. The Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau is not just for tourists. You can visit online here or the Flagstaff Visitor Center is located at One E. Route 66 in the historic downtown train station.
They have some beautiful and informative brochures about Flagstaff, its history and lots of day trips to take from the city. You can download them as pdf's from the website. They also have a daily calendar of events online and a weekly Flagstaff Happenings newsletter that can be downloaded. Instant access, so you don't have to search the Internet for information about the hours for the Arboretum or what's happening at Lowell Observatory or the Museum of Northern Arizona. No outdated, stale information here.
They're doing a great job (and no I don't have any connections.) Just thought you would enjoy this little trek.
They have some beautiful and informative brochures about Flagstaff, its history and lots of day trips to take from the city. You can download them as pdf's from the website. They also have a daily calendar of events online and a weekly Flagstaff Happenings newsletter that can be downloaded. Instant access, so you don't have to search the Internet for information about the hours for the Arboretum or what's happening at Lowell Observatory or the Museum of Northern Arizona. No outdated, stale information here.
They're doing a great job (and no I don't have any connections.) Just thought you would enjoy this little trek.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
"Arizona, the Wonderland"
You never know where a trail will lead. I've been spending a lot of time on the history of Flagstaff. This morning, I happened upon a book called Arizona, the Wonderland written by George Wharton James, published in 1917.
The page that came up in my Google book search was page 365, the beginning of Chapter XXVII, Coconino County and Flagstaff. To catch a glimpse of what these early visitors to Coconino County saw is such a privilege. He says, "Coconino County is one of the vast slices pared off in the early days of Arizona's history from Yavapai County--the mother of Arizona counties. Imagine an area as large all Vermont and all Massachusetts, with little Rhode Island thrown in--an area across which the Grand Canyon is cut in all its sublime glory, an area in which stands in solemn majesty one of the most, if not the most, beautiful and inviting mountain cluster in the United States--the San Francisco range, 12,611 feet above sea level--this is Coconino County."
Further, on page 367, he celebrates the beauty of the area, "Why go to Asia, or to the heights of the Himalayas, or the Andes of the South, when here are places that challenge the strength, the power, the endurance of the explorer? And it is a region of color, too, that surpasses the most extravagant endeavor of either writer or painter to portray. A La Farge, a Reid, a Moran, a Turner, a Tintoretto, a Titian, a Velasquez aided by all the more and most daring of the modern painters of the greatest of schools might suggest its color extravagances, but even though the artist were to paint it ever so well there isn't a person in the world who would believe it meant anything real--so why imagine the artists attempting it?"
I hope you enjoyed this little snippet from George Wharton James, published in 1917 and digitized in 2007. If you'd like to read more or download the entire book it's available here.
The page that came up in my Google book search was page 365, the beginning of Chapter XXVII, Coconino County and Flagstaff. To catch a glimpse of what these early visitors to Coconino County saw is such a privilege. He says, "Coconino County is one of the vast slices pared off in the early days of Arizona's history from Yavapai County--the mother of Arizona counties. Imagine an area as large all Vermont and all Massachusetts, with little Rhode Island thrown in--an area across which the Grand Canyon is cut in all its sublime glory, an area in which stands in solemn majesty one of the most, if not the most, beautiful and inviting mountain cluster in the United States--the San Francisco range, 12,611 feet above sea level--this is Coconino County."
Further, on page 367, he celebrates the beauty of the area, "Why go to Asia, or to the heights of the Himalayas, or the Andes of the South, when here are places that challenge the strength, the power, the endurance of the explorer? And it is a region of color, too, that surpasses the most extravagant endeavor of either writer or painter to portray. A La Farge, a Reid, a Moran, a Turner, a Tintoretto, a Titian, a Velasquez aided by all the more and most daring of the modern painters of the greatest of schools might suggest its color extravagances, but even though the artist were to paint it ever so well there isn't a person in the world who would believe it meant anything real--so why imagine the artists attempting it?"
I hope you enjoyed this little snippet from George Wharton James, published in 1917 and digitized in 2007. If you'd like to read more or download the entire book it's available here.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Southwest Climate Outlook
Let's take a look at CLIMAS, Climate Assessment for the Southwest, at the University of Arizona. Some really interesting material, including current outlook and historyof climate, drought, and fire potential are available.
You can download a paper on the "current state of knowledge concerning the climate of the Southwest." It's under Publications, called The Climate of the Southwest by Paul R. Sheppard, et al. If you prefer, you can watch a slide presentation by David P. Brown on the same subject. These were both done in 1999, but so much historical information.
For more current information, you can read online, or download a pdf, of the May 2008 issue Southwest Climate Outlook. This excellent resource is published monthly. The archive goes back through 2002, with older versions available upon email request. There's also an archive of the feature articles from past issues.
You can join the mailing list to receive the Southwest Climate Outlook each month. Just follow the directions here.
Be sure and explore all options on this site. It is filled with dozens of downloads.
You can download a paper on the "current state of knowledge concerning the climate of the Southwest." It's under Publications, called The Climate of the Southwest by Paul R. Sheppard, et al. If you prefer, you can watch a slide presentation by David P. Brown on the same subject. These were both done in 1999, but so much historical information.
For more current information, you can read online, or download a pdf, of the May 2008 issue Southwest Climate Outlook. This excellent resource is published monthly. The archive goes back through 2002, with older versions available upon email request. There's also an archive of the feature articles from past issues.
You can join the mailing list to receive the Southwest Climate Outlook each month. Just follow the directions here.
Be sure and explore all options on this site. It is filled with dozens of downloads.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Take a Virtual Tour at Lowell
Did you know that the Discovery Channel Telescope is being built about forty miles southeast of Flagstaff?
See the site at Happy Jack for yourself. There's a photo tour here (click on red banner at bottom of page) on the Lowell Observatory website. While you're there be sure to check out the DCT Publication Archives.
There are lots of interesting pages to visit on Lowell's website, including the often updated blog. It's definitely on Everyday Scholar's list of blog picks.
Lowell Observatory by Jesse Gardner
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